Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| 970502081897 | 05/05/1997 | 52964 | Conditions of clicking or tapping noise when the spreed control is engaged. *yc | 11/13/1997 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 2100202 | 07/08/2002 | 635721 | Subject regarding revision in diagnostic procedures and labor operation times for re transmissions. *tt | 10/30/2002 | |
| 2100601 | 03/16/2001 | 211699 | 621898 | Automatic transmission fluid usage atf+4. *tt *mj | 10/03/2001 |
| 210899 | 04/30/1999 | 604975 | Vehicles exhibiting buzz, whining, or moaning like noise from cold transmission when reverse gear is selected. *tt | 05/21/1999 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 181299 | 06/18/1999 | 181797 | 607298 | This bulletin explains the operation and application of the leak detection pump (ldp) monitor test. *tt | 09/17/1999 |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||||
| 030499 | 06/04/1999 | 606080 | Conditions with differential gear lubricant weeping from the front differential vent. *tt | 08/06/1999 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | |||||
| 030498 | 07/31/1998 | 602320 | Condition with two-piece propshaft boot being torn. *yc | 10/26/1998 | |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||||
| 030199A | 08/13/1999 | 030199 | 607690 | Conditions with two-piece propeller shaft boot torn. *tt | 10/05/1999 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 12/28/2007 | 137141 | ||
| Car lost power and locked up while driving. check engine light came on. scanner showed code p0740; torque converter problem. had to overhaul transmission and replace the torque converter. | |||
| 08/30/2002 | 1 | 04/01/1997 | |
| The speedometer is operatiing erratically. *jg | |||
| 05/03/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2002 | |
| Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working. also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side. transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case. i hate this truck and i couldn't give it away. *ak | |||
| 09/30/1998 | |||
| Loud whining between 45 to 50 mph, replaced differental ring and pinion gear, to no avail. | |||
| 08/30/1999 | 1 | 07/24/1999 | |
| Bottom of the transmission pan filled with metal flakes resulting in failure of the entire transmission. mjs | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 02/14/2006 | 54000 | 1 | 01/31/2004 |
| My ball joints and tie rods were going bad at 54,000 miles. dodge would not do anything about the problem. also, my transmission started to go bad at 74,000 miles. 2nd gear went out, then it went completely out at 91,000 miles. obviously dodge wasn't going to do anything about it. i wont buy another dodge again. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2006 | 51000 | 1 | 09/15/2003 |
| Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. after about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. i was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). dealer indicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. subject on another complaint. *tr | |||
| 09/09/2004 | 07/28/1997 | ||
| My two year old successfully placed keys into ignition and turned to on. then without the requirement of depressing the brake he was able to place transmission into neutral. my truck rolled backward approximately 150 yards and crashed into tree. total damage of $3500, luckily no one seriously injured. | |||
| Was driving when transmission became hard to shift into gears. would down shift into 3rd from overdrive on its own. took to transmission mechanic. was informed that gears were made of plastic and were stripped, breaking gear teeth off. *ak | |||
| 05/06/2001 | 09/01/1999 | ||
| Unable to shift into any gear at highway speed on freeway.*ak | |||
| While driving at approximately 55 mph vehicle shifted out of 5th gear and remained in neutral. dealership informed consumer that gear was cracked. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak | |||
| 01/11/2001 | 0 | ||
| Transmission slips when put vehicle in gear.*ak | |||
| 07/02/2000 | |||
| We purchased a 1997 dodge truck in oct. 1996. thhe transmission failed at 42000 miles. we were told by both our local south carolina dealer and by ed murdock where we bought the vehicle that chrysler would not stand behind the transmission due to our warranty being up at 36000 miles. we called the 800 # to chryslers complaint line and were told the same thing. we had our truck repaired at a local independent garageand only then did we discover that our truck had a 1998 prototype transmission in it. parts were ordered from atlanta that would not fit our 1997 dodge dakota because of the prototype transmission and had to be returned and reordered from detroit. ala in all we were without our truck for 29 days while this mess was sorted out. we would have never purchased a truck with a prototype asian transmission in it if we had been told. thhe ed murdock dealership refuses to reimburse us for our expences, chrysler says that they will not because it is out of warranty. someone should have to make this right because not only were we misled in our purchase but any transmission should be expected to perform longer than 42000 miles. we want to be reimbursed for the work done and our expense for a rental car during the length of time that we were sorting this mess out and still having to go on with our daily routine. no one seems to want to stand behind thhe chrysler products from the manufacturer to the one who sells them. thank you in advance for your help , i have sent several other letters and if you can tell me of someone else to write i would appreciate it. thanks, renee mcabee. *ak | |||
| 07/27/2000 | 1 | 07/01/2000 | |
| When going 55 or faster and let off the gas, when reaccelerating the transmission bucks. the transmission temperature light comes on and the thermostat has been replaced to try to fix the problem but it has not worked. *ak | |||
| 08/05/1997 | 14 | 01/01/1996 | |
| On 2/27/2000 i filed a complaint with nhtsa. my problem being my transmissiom will not engage properly. when it is shifted from park to drive the vechicle may hesitate and not move then violently slam into gear. on one occasion my neice setting in the back seat head was slammed into the rear window glass as the vechicle lurched forward. i have a video tape of the transmission failing to properly engauge. i was able to reach in the back seat take the camera out of the case insert the battery film and shoot a video of the truck setting in gear then violently lurching forward. the dealer service manager said on the service order cannot duplicate sitition. i showed him the video and he admitted i have a problem but he couldnt help me because chrysler would not reimburse him. *ak | |||
| 04/25/2000 | |||
| Vehicle shows rpms but doesn't accelerate as far as moving up to speed. dealer was contacted & it may be the transmission. transmission repairs are not not covered under the warranty.*ak | |||
| 08/03/1999 | 1 | 12/01/1996 | |
| The transmission will not engauge after being in reverse for a period of a miniute or more this has happened 14 + times. the dealer said they could find nothing wrong. i took a vidio tape to the service manager at gurley leep that clearly shows it in drive with the shift in drive with the tackometer rising and falling then slaming into gear. the service manager said it was out of his hands because chrysler would not pay for it . it was between me and chrysler. i personally wonder if the district representitive isnt waiting for it to fail under the extended warrenty so someone else can pick up the repair tab. it violently slams into gear when put in drive throwing you back in the seat and slamming the powertrain in engaugement. a certified letter was sent to chrysler# z257635146 4/14/199 signed for by kyle c and the dealer gurley leep atten mike leep z257635147 4/12/1999 signed for by kristy roberts both letters were ignored with no telephone call or letter returned. this has been the worst vechicle i have ever owned with the highest number of repairs the factory has been totally indifferent to my problem as well as the dealer. *ak | |||
| 01/03/2000 | |||
| Transmission acting sluggish. was not shifting into gear properly. would buck severely. prior to this happening, vehicle would stall out for no reason. has happened at least 4-5 times. at dealership, mechanic changed battery, map sensor & the computer chip. problem was not solved. finally indicated transmission was worn out & needed to be replaced with a rebuilt one. *ak | |||
| 08/25/1997 | 3 | 09/01/1996 | |
| 52000 miles and i have replaced these items: belt tensioner, a/c compressor, 3 sets of front tires (the tires are wearing on the outside edge-the truck has been aligned each time the tires were replaced), 2 sets of rotors, 2 brake calipers, 4 sets of brake pads, the steering knuckle that broke into three (3) pieces while the truck was going 65 mph, and now i have to take it to a transmission shop because the truck jumps from drive to neutral while the truck is in motion. all of these repair cost have been paid by myself. dealer said there has been no other complaints about the dodge dakota i find that hard to believe. *ak( dot number: tire size: lt21575r15 ) | |||
| 12/15/1996 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Design of vehicle is shifting very hard, found pieces of metal in the transmission fluid. *yc | |||
| 04/26/1999 | 1 | 11/15/1995 | |
| Transmission failed, would not go in reverse. mjs | |||
| 02/03/1997 | |||
| When driving at any speed vehicle is backfiring/stalling/vibrating, and vehicle dies out. consumer had to get a new clutch and this is the third transmission that has been replaced within vehicle. there is a problem with the gears, and dealer can't determine the problem. *ak | |||
| 12/04/1998 | 20 | 11/01/1996 | |
| Truck was in park, with the parking brake engaged, and refused to start. after twenty minutes it finally started. i stepped out too close the hood, and the vehicle started moving in reverse. it struck a part of the parking stucture, bending the hinges and missaligning the drivers door. from that point on the truck will not start in park, and you must find the neutral starting point, somewhere between neutral and reverse. today, 12-15-98 i had to have it towed to the dealer to be repaired because apparently the problem has gotten worse, and now there is no neutral to start the truck in ! | |||
| 05/16/1998 | 1 | 04/03/1998 | |
| Transmission drags. | |||
| 01/22/1998 | 08/16/1997 | ||
| Vehicle jerks forward, with a clunking sound, when shifting from first to second gear. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Transmission shifting problems. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||
| 10/15/2006 | 51000 | 1 | 09/15/2003 |
| Transmission failure at 50,000 miles. transmission began to bog down while driving about 40 mph. after about 5 minutes it would only go about 5 mph while reving about 3500 rpm. paid for tow to dodge dealer in hampton va for analysis and repair. tow operator remarked almost all dodge dakotas towed for tranny work ended up costing $2300-$2900 for a replacement. i was lucky and only had to replace all pressure regulating valves for about $670 (funny how they all went bad at the same time but i would not argue the point since the parts were cheap compared to doing it over in a few months). dealer indicated this was a years old problem which was common to replace these transmissions and that my $600 repair was not guaranteed to prevent total failure. dodge has not agreed to any recall to fix but should do this. therefore, i will never own another dodge or chrysler of any sort. upper and lower ball joints also failed at under 50,000 miles and no repair recall on this long standing problem as well. subject on another complaint. *tr | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer complained about having transmission fluid problem. since owning the vehicle consumer had to change transmission fluid every year. also, air conditioning problem. vehicle was taken to a repair shop, and consumer was told that air conditioner compressor failed to work and vehicle did not have air conditioning. manufacturer was not contacted at the time of this call. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||
| 12/22/2002 | 97000 | 1 | 10/07/2002 |
| Auto matic transmission lack of fluid caused by check valve and trans coolant line. *ak | |||
| 09/04/1998 | 06/12/1997 | ||
| Transmission began to leak oil from front seal. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | |||
| Shifter cable broke when driver was shifting gear. he conplained that vehicle shifter was pulling hard. took vehicle to dealership, and mechanic told him that shifter was okay.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 05/03/2002 | 1 | 03/01/2002 | |
| Speedometor and cruise control quit working replaced speed sensor per dealer and still not working. also seat doesn't lock in upright position on drivers side. transfer case seal went out and had to replace transfer case. i hate this truck and i couldn't give it away. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2000 | |||
| Due to defective driveshaft which was out of balance by 31/2 ounce, differential and transfer case malfunctioned. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 10/27/1997 | 1 | 01/21/1997 | |
| Front end seal came out of the transfer case, causing a loss of oil. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||
| Vehicle vibrates when driving between 35-55 mph. dealer claimed vibration due to a design flaw which causes torque converter to lock up. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT | |||
| 05/12/1999 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| I feel that wheel bearing/ fuel pumps and brake rotors should not have to all be replaced at cost to me in the first 2 years/38,000 miles on my vehicle. several of these parts could cause a safety hazard such as a crash. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT - SEAL | |||
| 12/28/2002 | 53980 | 1 | 02/06/1997 |
| Clanking noise in right front wheel. axle seal broke, replaced, 3 weeks later noise again ball joints needed to be replaced. ph | |||
| 02/01/1997 | |||
| I have two recurring problems. 1) i had the truck in 3 separate times for rattling noise in the engine compartment. the dealer, so far, replaced the timing chain and fan clutch, both under warranty. once again, the engine is making the same rattling noise. this noise started around 58,000 miles. also, my engine currently has an oil leak. the dealer claims it is the front seal. the dealer broke this seal when the timing chain was replaced. the dealer refuses to pay for the seal repair. 2) i had the truck in 3 times for another rattling noise in the a/c (interior). the dealer claimed the noise was normal. the fourth visit and conversation with manager proved that the noise, in fact, was not normal. the dealer replaced the compressor. at the current mileage, the a/c is once again making the same noise. in summary, the engine is producing a rattling noise. the a/c is also producing a rattling noise (both items are separate noises as validated by the dealership). *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| When consumer applies the clutch, clutch doesn't engage. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE | |||
| 04/17/1999 | 1 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Hydraulic clutch assembly failure caused unsafe conditions. vehicle was in gear and running at time of failure; lifting foot from brake pedal while clutch pedal was depressed resulted in vehicle lurching forward. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | |||
| 10/25/2004 | 94255 | 2 | 12/30/2001 |
| Going down the road at 55 mph and all of a sudden i hit a pothole and the passenger side tire came right off , it is the same problem as the 2000 - 2003's have. we have pictures of it to prove it . the upper and lower ball joints let loose the cv shaft pulled out and the shock got bent. the tire turned on its side while the truck was sliding down the road sideways and i was unable to control how the truck was going. the only thing holding the tire on the truck was the brake line. the tire rim had chunks taken out of it and the tire had wear from being on its side under the frame of the truck while it was sliding. we had to get it flatbedded to the repair shop . we had a certified repair shop do all the necessary repairs to the truck to which included new upper and lower ball joints,new cv shaft, new rim adn tire , new shock , axle assembly,brake hose , steering gear and linkage,inner and outer tie rods and a front end alignment.this truck had just been through a nys inspection in december 2003 and passed. this accident happened on october 25, 2004 which left us without this vehicle because it was not able to be repaired immediately we got the truck back on november 10 , 2004. we feel that chrysler should be responsible for the repair bill for this vehicle because they are admitting there is a problem the same as this to the newer models. *ak | |||
| 09/10/2000 | 50000 | 4 | 07/15/2002 |
| Premature failure of ball joints & lower steering column u-joints. upper ball joints need to be replaced again. *ak | |||
| 06/14/2001 | 1 | 09/01/1999 | |
| The universal joint on the steering column totally failed causing the steering wheel to free-wheel the vehicle veered out of control sideswiping two parked cars. this is a critical failure; if it ocurred at highway speed it could have caused several fatalities!!. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 52423 | 1 | 12/01/1996 |
| Without warning, just after exiting a freeway, the rear wheels of my 1997 dodge dakota truck, locked up. i was stuck in traffic and was not able to move. tow truck arrived , and advised that the rear axle had locked-up. this truck has only 52,423 miles. *ak | |||
| 05/01/2000 | |||
| Due to defective driveshaft which was out of balance by 31/2 ounce, differential and transfer case malfunctioned. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 12/22/1998 | 1 | 03/20/1997 | |
| Front differential failed resulting in vehicle fire. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||
| 05/01/2000 | |||
| Due to defective driveshaft which was out of balance by 31/2 ounce, differential and transfer case malfunctioned. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - UNIVERSAL JOINT | |||
| 06/15/1997 | 10 | 05/05/1997 | |
| Knocking at left front cv joint. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 09/13/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1996 | |
| Fifth gear came apart ar 65mph causing the vehicle to loose power and the driver was unable to shift into another gear. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving 70 mph transfer case locked up and broke into three pieces. vehicle could not be driven. *ak | |||